Thomas Wilkins discussed his career as an orchestral conductor and the opportunities available to American orchestras for reimagining community engagement in the 21st century. This interview was conducted as part of SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras, made possible by Washington Performing Arts and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Speaker Biography: Thomas Wilkins is the music director of the Omaha Symphony and principal conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and holds the Germeshausen Family and Youth Concert Conductor Chair with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His previous conducting posts include the Detroit Symphony, Florida Orchestra and Richmond Symphony. Wilkins served on the music faculties of North Park University, the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, and Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2014, Wilkins received the Outstanding Artist award at the Nebraska Governor's Arts Awards for his significant contribution to music in the state. He has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Utah Symphony and National Symphony Orchestra. He is chairman of the board for the Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund and is a national ambassador for the World Pediatric Project.

Speaker Biography: Nicholas A. Brown is a music specialist in the Library's music division and an active conductor and musicologist.